What's this? Another update in 24 hours? The world must have gone mad!

One more chapter and that's the end for this story. Fair warning, though: Due to school and work, it most likely won't be updated until next Saturday or Sunday.

The silence that follows is the strongest and longest I've ever encountered. No one says anything, only staring at the person who last spoke. The person who probably took the breath out of everyone in that court, including me. But she doesn't look as if her words bothered her. No, she meant to say it and she meant to say that exact word.

Mikayla Makoola is pleading for my innocence, and I'm more than just shocked.

I'm surprised she spoke up, angry that she thinks she can do so, and at the same time, I'm grateful that someone is on my side, even if I don't know the reason why.

"What makes you think so, Sasquatch offspring?" The Shaman asks her, brining everyone out of their thoughts.

Mikayla doesn't back down from the Shaman's challenging look. She steps forward, just about ready to prove her point, but the mermaid from the jury cries, "Seriously people! Can I, like, read the stupid verdant or whatever you call it? I want to go home so, like, let me finish!"

The Shaman nods and mumbles a small "yes," but his attention is still focused on Mikayla. Who in the area isn't focused on the guard girl?

"Brady Parker was found guilty." Once that is said, the mermaid shoves the paper in the direction of another jury member, a pirate, and calls the guards to carry her home. The guards don't listen.

They don't even know it is the mermaid who spoke because they, like everyone else, was watching the dramatic show called That's My Messed up Life, unfold right before their eyes. I can't blame them for liking it.

The only people affected by the reading of the verdict are the crowd. They rise from their seats, raise their arms high over their heads, and began to cry in joy because Brady Parker is guilty, meaning they won't have to deal with him.

But they are so wrong.

Mikayla whistles loudly and the crowd stops. "It's not over," she tells them.

The crowd, now disappointed and angry, plops back down in their respective seats and listen, though unwillingly. Some look like they've regretted their decision of coming.

Mikayla turns back to the Shaman, and Mikayla begins speaking again until the Shaman interrupts her this time, "Don't think you can defend him," He says honestly, "The verdict has been decided-no changing it. You can plea all you want offspring, but what's said is said."

The Shaman turns to the crowd and continues, "Brady Parker will remain in the dungeon until the age of twenty-five. He will not be allowed to re-gain the position of King ever again, for he has committed a crime so great. Once he is freed after seven years, he has the option of remaining on Kinkow and living in the village among lower class people,"-the crowd roared in rage at that-"or returning home to Chicago and never showing his face here again."

"But that's not fair!" Mikayla argues. "Sure the ex-Co-King did a lot of stupid things and he broke the law but isn't seven years a bit unreasonable?"

Mikayla lets her words hang in the air for a while before going on, "Brady only acted out of emotions. He was angry, frustrated, and scared. When people let their emotions control them, they lose it. That's exactly what happened with Brady over here. He didn't know how to cope with the sudden changes that it caused him to feel anger towards everyone, towards me." She looks at me as if she's truly sorry, and I know that she isn't faking it. She actually means the words she's saying.

"People act irrational all the time-including me. All the things Brady did-running away, breaking and entering-it was because he was too troubled by the emotions." Mikayla walks to the jury. "Yes; he is guilty, but is he guilty of his emotions?"

The jury shake their heads, all but one does and that is the mermaid who can only complain. Mikayla takes that as a signal to continue, "My point is, even if he broke the law, he was only acting on the emotions he couldn't handle so it isn't at all logical to lock him up for seven years. Put him on probation or something, but don't lock him up. Brady Parker is truly innocent and he is only a victim of the actions and emotions he couldn't control."

Mikayla turns to look at everyone before looking back at the jury again. "Please. Just think about it, please." Her voice is now a whisper, a plea.

The Shaman leans forward, an annoyed look on his face. "The Sasquatch offspring is not wrong."

A collective gasp comes from the crowd, and it's as if they can't believe that the Shaman is actually siding with Mikayla for once, not against.

The Shaman gestures to the jury. "The final decision is yours."

The jury huddles together on their bench and speak in hushed tones. A few minutes later, they separate and the pirate of the group announces, "Brady Parker 's innocent. The young lad is a rapscallion fo' breakin' they law, so the lad's punishment 's gone down to two months. Also, he can't be Kin' no mo'. He can stay he o' he can go afte' his time s up. That s all." (1)

"This is the final statement. No objections, no changes. This court is done." The Shaman takes his gavel and hits it against his podium, giggling like a child because the action brings him so much pleasure. "Good, now I can get some sleep! Kings, no more idiotic things. I'm done with it." And with that being said, the Shaman gets up and leaves.

The crowd is in a neutral mood-not quite sure if they should be happy or upset. Some of them don't even bother; they just leave. The court is emptying quickly, people rushing off to get home because the court is too much for one night.

I don't blame them for thinking so.

Once the guards realize that it's their cue to take their prisoner, they grab my arms and force me forward.

"Wait!" A voice calls and the guards stop in their tracks. I turn my head and I'm surprised by the person who said it.

Boomer stands there, the redhead and Mikayla behind him but they aren't holding each other's hand. They don't even look at each other, let alone stand close to the other. This is odd.

Boomer's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "I'm sorry."

I don't believe a word said, so I ask, "Excuse me?"

"I said I'm sorry." Boomer's tone is not humorous at all. His face isn't devoid of emotion, either. I'm taken aback by the sympathy that is displayed in my brother's eyes, the strict and serious look on his face. His lips are a straight firm line, but the curve of the tips show that he wants to smile. The most misleading thing about him is his body posture-crossed arms and cocked hip-but I have to remember that it has always been the way Boomer stood.

I give a short and quick chuckle. "Yeah, right. Shouldn't I be the one apologizing?"

"You should," Boomer agrees, "But I'm the jerk in this problem, so I'm the one apologizing."

I blankly stare at him and he says, "Look, Brady. I'm still mad at you for leaving and coming back without telling me, but I don't want to stay mad at you forever. I want things to be okay between us even if everything isn't. Do you forgive me?"

I think his words over for a moment. Should I forgive him or not? If I do, things will get better eventually. If I don't, there will be more bad blood between us and I don't think Boomer and I want that. So, I think of all the good that can happen, of all the peace that can come from this as I say, "I forgive you. But do you forgive me?"

Boomer smiles and this smile is genuine. He pats me on my shoulder in a brotherly manner. "Let's see when you get out of jail two months from now."

I smile back widely, stupidly. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Don't push your luck," Boomer warns, but the smile on his face proves that he's teasing me.

Someone clears their throat and Boomer and I turn to the one who did it. The redhead. He holds his hand out to me and says, "I don't think we've meet properly before. I'm Boz."

I look at his hand and laugh. Then I look at the guards that restrain my arms and back to the redhead. "Do you honestly think I can shake your hand?"

The redhead glances awkwardly at his outstretched hand and places it back at his side. "Right," he mumbles.

"I'd tell you my name, but I'm sure you already know it," I tease him. Then I think of something, "I tell you what, why don't we hang out sometime. I'd like to know you."

Boz smiles and nods vigorously, "That would be cool. I can tell you how I was raised by monkeys and grew up in the jungle! Then I can tell you about what Boomer and I have been doing since you've left. Lots of crazy adventures that we went on. It'll be awesome." He turns red in the face, embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm just so excited. It's a shame you can't be kings with Boomer and I, though. It would've been awesome to have all three of us rule together."

I shrug off his behavior, his words. "No worries, it's fine. I mean, it sucks, but I'll be fine. Besides, two kings are more than enough trouble."

"Yeah," He agrees, laughing, "Well, see you later, I guess."

With that, he and Boomer stalk off and that leaves Mikayla and me alone. Well, as alone as we can be in an empty court with guards holding me down but it'll do, I suppose.

"Hi," I say slowly.

"Hi," She says back.

We lapse into a silence until I speak up, "Does your dad still hate me?"

"What do you think?" She answers with a question.

"I think he might save skinning me tonight, but will plan a more painful demise for me much later," I joke, and it feels right. Everything is slowly turning back to the way it previously was, for better or for worse. Even I'm turning back to my goofy old self and I might just accept it.

It works and Mikayla laughs. "I don't know; you might have to ask him yourself."

"I'd rather not," I say and she laughs again.

Then she turns serious. "You should know Boz and I broke up."

I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow. "I thought you loved him. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I still love you, okay!" Mikayla cries, "I love you even though you're stupid and you do stupid things. I love you even if you were being an absolute jerk who deserves to get punched in the face for leaving!"

"I left because I didn't have what you qualified as a boyfriend." I tell her.

"Would you shut up about that? It doesn't matter." She insists. "Brady, superhero or not, genius or not, it's you who I'll always love. Why don't you realize that?"

"I didn't know." I tell her honestly. "I just thought that you were one of those girls who liked those perfect boys, with the bulging muscles and everything."

"I don't care about that," She says. "You're a screw up, a mess, and everything goes wrong with you. I'm saying that we should try out our relationship again. You know, make things better."

I sigh. Do I want to make things better between me and Mikayla? That is why I came back after all. My feelings for her are still strong, and although I'm glad my love for her isn't unrequited, how can I be sure the relationship will be healthy? I guess the only way to find out is to try again.

"I don't think you'd like to have a date in the dungeon, so why don't we wait two months?" I ask. "And maybe wait a while longer after that to make sure your dad doesn't strangle me."

"I'd love that." Mikayla giggles. She steps forward, plants a kiss on my cheek. "Until then, have fun in prison."

A ridiculously wide and goofy smile overtakes my lips. The guards drag me away, probably sick of how long this conversation is taking. I look back at Mikayla-smiling, brave, and beautiful Mikayla-and call after her, "Oh, I will."

Even though my punishment sucks and I really do deserve it, I realize that the next two months-or the next years of my life-won't be as bad as I think it will.

(1) Pirate Translation: "Brady Parker is innocent. The young lad is a rapscallion for breaking the law, so the lad's punishment has gone down to two months. Also, he can't be King anymore. He can stay here or he can go after his time is up. That is all."
The pirate speaks improperly because he's a pirate. You can't expect him to speak modern English, which is why he speaks so choppily.